Compensatory response of colon tissue to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

Abstract

Depletion of goblet cells (the main mucin-producing cells in the colon) is one of the most reliable histological characteristics of ulcerative colitis, whereas a major symptom of this disease is bloody diarrhea containing a large amount of mucus. The discrepancy between these phenomena was investigated in a time-course study in rats with experimental colitis induced by treatment with oral dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 1, 3, or 5 days. Biochemical analysis showed a reduction in mucin content in the distal side of the colon that was proportional to the duration of DSS administration. In the proximal side of the colon, however, there was a significant increase in mucin content already on the first day of treatment with DSS. This increase in colonic mucin content continued for the 5 days of treatment. In the distal side, both sulfomucin and sialomucin decreased proportionally to the duration of DSS administration. In the proximal side, there was an increase in high iron diamine-Alcian blue-positive mucins, and confirming the proliferation of goblet cells. The proliferated glands were predominantly sialylated. Goblet cell depletion and an increase in mucin production occurred in different parts of the colon. This phenomenon may be a type of compensatory function of colon tissue in response to the localized decrease of mucin production in certain portions of the colon.

The Effect of N. Acetylcysteine and Ginger on Acetic Acid Induced Colitis in Adult Male Albino Rat: Histological, Immunohistochemical and Morphometric Study

“…Contrary to the present results, other investigators found increased number of goblet cells in dextran sulfate sodium-colitis rats [48]. The authors explained their findings by the heterogeneity of colonic inflammation with depleted goblet cell areas and increased in another areas with mucus overproduction previously suggested by Nakano et al [49].…”

Reconstitution of Scid mice with CD4+CD25− T cells leads to rapid colitis: An improved model for pharmacologic testing

“…Similar findings have been shown in the IL10 −/− colitis model [34]. It is not clear, whether the loss of mucus is caused by actual goblet cell depletion or whether the goblet cells are still present, but have lost their characteristic morphology due to decreased mucus contents [33][34][35][36]. Our finding that TFF3 mRNA and protein -which is specifically expressed in intestinal goblet cells -is still present in areas of extensive mucus depletion indicates the latter.…”

“…Preparation of probes: Fragments of mouse TFF-3 cDNA were generated by RT-PCR from mouse embryo (17th gestational day) Poly A+ RNA and used to prepare the following subclone in pBluescript KS(+): mTFF3, basepair 36-238 (mTFF3, EMBO database AQC number NM_011575) (confirmed by sequencing (MWG Biotech, Ebersberg, Germany)). Generation of 35 S-UTP labeled antisense and sense probes by in vitro transcription as well as the in situ hybridization procedure was performed as described by Pyke et al [16].…”

Temporal genomewide expression profiling of DSS colitis reveals novel inflammatory and angiogenesis genes similar to ulcerative colitis

“…Previous studies from our group (1) and others (34,36) indicate that DSS colitis pathology develops progressively over time. Therefore, in order to better understand temporal changes in genome expression profiles, 3% DSS-mediated tissue histopathology was evaluated and confirmed at days 0, 2, 4, and 6.…”